A public consultation has been announced for a proposed £30 million championship golf course at Bellarena in County Londonderry. Galgorm Collection, the hotel group behind the plan, is seeking feedback ahead of submitting a planning application to Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.

The proposed Bellarena Golf Links would be built at 260 Seacoast Road/Scotchtown Road. Access would be from the old Bellarena Primary School. The development would be the first new championship links course in Northern Ireland in more than a century.

The course includes a clubhouse with bar and restaurant, a practice area with short course, driving range, putting areas, eight golf lodges, comfort stations, and maintenance and operations buildings.

A bridge across the Derry to Belfast railway line forms part of the plans. Historic military buildings linked to a former United States World War One camp would be reconstructed if approval is granted.

An information event will be held at the old Bellarena Primary School on August 24, with sessions from 12 noon to 3pm and 5pm to 7pm. Feedback can also be submitted online via bellarenagolflinks.com from August 24 to September 25.

The consultation is a pre-application event. Feedback should be directed to Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.

Galgorm Collection has said it hopes work will start this year and the course will open in 2029. The company estimates the project will bring its total investment in the north west to around £65 million and create 300 jobs.